Hi,
I'm a new beekeeper in Southern NH, I bought 2 packages that came from Georgia in early April. I have each hive setup in 10-frame medium boxes; I have been feeding sugar syrup and pollen patties since I installed them. Both seemed to be doing okay, then 1 started to noticeably do better (I call it Hive 2), lots of bees, brood and comb. I added a second medium brood box and nothing has happened, no expansion. I looked them over and there isn't much for brood, they do have lots of sugar syrup stored and I think some actual honey too. I decided to re-queened my "hive 1" because their numbers were really dwindling and I was afraid if I didn't step in they would just wither away. Since I was already getting 1 queen I decided to re-queen Hive 2 as well because they just don't seem to be growing, BUT i cannot find the queen. The hive started with a painted queen and I haven't seen in her weeks. I didn't see any queen cells either, I've been in the hive every 7 days or so checking things over.
My new queens arrived yesterday and I found the queen in Hive 1, pinched her (I felt bad but I think it was for the best) and strapped in the queen cage and expect her to be released and turn that hive around...
Hive 2 - I spent over an hour trying to find the queen, no sign of the painted queen I started with but I did not see a non-painted queen either... is it possible the hive is queen-less? i know it is quite possible I just can't find her... What do I do though? I have the new queen strapped in there but I'm afraid they'll kill my new queen if there is an old queen kicking around...?????
Thanks for your help!
Kelly
I'm a new beekeeper in Southern NH, I bought 2 packages that came from Georgia in early April. I have each hive setup in 10-frame medium boxes; I have been feeding sugar syrup and pollen patties since I installed them. Both seemed to be doing okay, then 1 started to noticeably do better (I call it Hive 2), lots of bees, brood and comb. I added a second medium brood box and nothing has happened, no expansion. I looked them over and there isn't much for brood, they do have lots of sugar syrup stored and I think some actual honey too. I decided to re-queened my "hive 1" because their numbers were really dwindling and I was afraid if I didn't step in they would just wither away. Since I was already getting 1 queen I decided to re-queen Hive 2 as well because they just don't seem to be growing, BUT i cannot find the queen. The hive started with a painted queen and I haven't seen in her weeks. I didn't see any queen cells either, I've been in the hive every 7 days or so checking things over.
My new queens arrived yesterday and I found the queen in Hive 1, pinched her (I felt bad but I think it was for the best) and strapped in the queen cage and expect her to be released and turn that hive around...
Hive 2 - I spent over an hour trying to find the queen, no sign of the painted queen I started with but I did not see a non-painted queen either... is it possible the hive is queen-less? i know it is quite possible I just can't find her... What do I do though? I have the new queen strapped in there but I'm afraid they'll kill my new queen if there is an old queen kicking around...?????
Thanks for your help!
Kelly
